19 October 2004	Tuesday	04 Ramazan 1425

ISLAMABAD, Oct 18: Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Dr Sher Afgan faced another bad day in the National Assembly when the speaker deferred his privilege motions against opposition members.

Soon after walkout by opposition members and arrival of Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz in the National Assembly, the parliamentary affairs minister requested the Speaker, Chaudhry Amir Hussain, to refer his two privilege motions to the committee concerned of the house.

It may be mentioned here that the minister had moved two privilege motions against the opposition members for creating rumpus in the house and for making allegations against him that he had used abusive language against the people of Sindh in an interview.

Speaking on a point of order, Dr Afgan said the opposition members had been obstructing the proceedings of the assembly for the past few days and thus committing contempt of the house.

He urged the speaker to take action against the unruly opposition members under articles 267 and 268 of the Constitution.

He asked the speaker not to show any leniency as the opposition members were not serious in the house proceedings.

"They will not come to the negotiation table. I am informing you," he said.

He said even the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) did not pardon law breakers.

The minister said the opposition members were about to attack the speaker.

He said if no action was taken, then there could be a dangerous situation. He said in former

East Pakistan Assembly, a deputy speaker sustained injuries and later died due to a similar attack by the opposition members. "Your leniency will only encourage the opposition members to continue to disrupt the proceedings," he added.

Speaking on a point of order, the ruling MNA from Bahawalpur, Riaz Hussain Pirzada, asked the speaker not to take Dr Afgan's request seriously and defer the matter.

"The minister (Dr Afgan) will take us down with him. Please, at least keep me away from this matter," Mr Pirzada said.

The speaker also rejected the minister's request and deferred the motions again with the remarks that "the concession was being given to the opposition members due to the holy month of Ramazan".

The minister had faced a similar situation on Friday when several treasury members, including former prime minister Zafarullah Khan Jamali, asked him not to move the motion.